Stretch marks are not harmful and there is usually no need to see your doctor about them. However, if you feel that your stretch marks are unsightly and they are making you unhappy, it may be worth seeing your doctor to discuss possible treatment options. There is no guarantee that any particular treatment that is recommended for you will work.

Before making any recommendations, your doctor will examine your stretch marks, ask you about any other symptoms that you have and whether or not you are taking any medicines. In rare cases, stretch marks can be a symptom of an underlying condition, such as Cushing’s syndrome or Marfan syndrome.

You should see your doctor if your stretch marks do not seem to be linked to changes in your weight or growth or if you have any of the symptoms that are associated with either Cushing’s syndrome, or Marfan syndrome.

If your doctor thinks that your stretch marks may be linked to another condition, they may need to carry out some tests. These may include blood or urine tests and imaging scans, such as an X-ray or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. An MRI scan uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to produce images of the inside of your body.

There is no specific medical treatment for stretch marks and in most cases there is no need to see your doctor about them. Most stretch marks fade over time and are not that noticeable.

If you have a lot of stretch marks, if they affect a large part of your body or if you are worried that they look unsightly there may be treatments available that can help. However, there is little or no medical evidence to show that any of these treatments will work, so it is important that you are realistic about what they can achieve.

1. Creams, gels and lotions

There are many creams, gels and lotions that claim to be able to remove stretch marks. These products are essentially moisturisers for your skin and are available from pharmacies and many supermarkets and health and beauty shops.

2. Laser therapy

Laser therapy cannot remove stretch marks altogether, but it may help them to fade, and appear less obvious.

There are several different types of laser therapy that may be used to treat stretch marks, such as pulsed dye laser treatment. This type of laser therapy works on early stretch marks (that are still red) by sealing the blood vessels within your skin and speeding up the fading process.

Laser therapy for stretch marks is usually very expensive. It is likely that you will need many treatments in order to obtain visible results, but the exact number will depend on your skin colour and type.

3. Cosmetic surgery

Cosmetic surgery for stretch marks is a very extreme and expensive option and is rarely recommended.

If you have stretch marks on your abdomen (stomach) as well as a large amount of loose skin, it may be possible to have an operation called an abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck. An abdominoplasty can remove the excess fat and skin around your abdomen as well as removing the stretch marks below your belly button at the same time.

As this type of surgery is a cosmetic procedure (used to improve your appearance). Cosmetic surgery also carries several risks and it can cause considerable scarring.

How to prevent stretch marks

Stretch marks are very common and they cannot be prevented altogether. However, the following advice may help you to reduce your risk of developing stretch marks.

1. Maintain a healthy weight

One of the most common causes of stretch marks is gaining weight in a short period of time. Putting on a lot of weight and diets that cause your weight to change rapidly can cause stretch marks to form because your skin is literally stretched by the sudden growth. If you need to lose weight, aim to do it slowly by ensuring that you get plenty of regular exercise and by eating a healthy, balanced diet.

You can also find out if you are overweight or obese by using our body mass index (BMI) calculator.

2. Look after your skin

Massaging your skin everyday with moisturiser or a massage glove can help to improve your circulation and encourage new tissue growth.

It is also important for you to eat a healthy, balanced diet that is rich in vitamins and minerals – particularly vitamins E and C and the minerals zinc and silicon. These vitamins and minerals help to keep your skin healthy.

3. Gain weight steadily during pregnancy

If you are pregnant, it is normal and healthy to put on a lot of weight in a short space of time but it is a myth that you need to ‘eat for two’. You are more likely to get stretch marks during pregnancy due to hormonal changes that affect your skin. However, you may be able to minimise their appearance by gaining pregnancy weight steadily.

While you are pregnant you need to take in approximately 2,500 calories a day. However, this is only 500 calories more than a woman’s normal recommended calorie intake. It is important that these calories come from a well-balanced diet that is rich in wholewheat carbohydrates, such as bread and pasta as well as fruit and vegetables.

During pregnancy, your weight gain should be slow and gradual. As a rough guide:

• it is normal to gain 1-2kg (2-4lb) over the first 12 weeks,
• from week 12-28, it is normal to gain 300-400g (10-14oz) a week, and
• from week 28-40 (the last three months) it is normal to gain 1-3kg (2-6lb) a month.

You should see your doctor, midwife or health visitor if you are worried that you are not gaining weight at a healthy rate.

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7. Diabetes and pregnancy

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